The Port of Nanaimo partnered with Western Stevedoring and its affiliate, the auto division of SSA Marine, to design, build, finance and operate the terminal, and the existing pier is being upgraded to berth a Pure Car and Truck Carrier, a vessel purpose-built for vehicle and equipment transport.

Until now, European vehicle manufacturers had only access to ports in eastern Canada to process vehicles, which then have to be shipped by rail or truck to dealers across the country. The Nanaimo site will also act as temporary storage for vehicles until they are shipped, which will relieve existing storage capacity shortages on the mainland.

The renovation work includes refinishing the building’s exterior and retrofit of 30,000 square feet of its interior for the vehicle processing centre, which will handle about 10,000 cars in its first year of operation.

“This project is a $19 million investment overall,” said Michelle Corfield, Nanaimo Port Authority board chairwoman, said in a press release. “We are grateful that the federal government has contributed $6.3 million towards it as well, which indicates they are as optimistic about this project and its positive impact on the region as we are at the port.”